Apparatus for removing water-borne material from raceways and the like



.C. R. REID March 18, 1930.

1,751,421 APPARATUS FOR REMOVINGWATER BORNE MATERIAL FROM RACEWAYS, AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. l0, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- uf u 2524 R. REID ING WATER BORNE MATERIAL WAYS AND THE LIKE n 3 Sheets-SheetI 3 -m-n I:|`

Filed Sept. lO, 1928 FROM RACE APPARATUS FOR REMOV M`arch 18', 1930.

Patented Mar. 18, 1930 PATE r orFijc-E oHAnLnsR. REID, on SHAWINIGAN FALLS, QUEBEQCANADA APrARA'rUs non miivroviuerl WATER-BORNE MATERIAL FROM RAcnwAYs AND 'r1-IE LiKE Application filed September 10, y1928. Serial No. 304,965.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in racks for removing'water borne material, rsuch as branches of trees, weeds, etc. whether fioating or submerged, frorn'water courses such as those leading to turbines or pumps, and the objectis to provide a device of this `class which will not only separate-the rubbish from the water flowing through but which will be self-clearing to avoid obstruction to! water l l5 which will raise all-collected submerged rubbish to the'su'rface of the water sov that it may be removed.Y t

Another object is to provide a device of this character which may be made in comparatively small, self contained and easily handled sections, inorder to facilitate insertion in and removal from deep channels.-

Various other objects and the advantages of the invention may be ascertained from the following description and the accompanying drawings'. l

The invention resides briefly in the provision of a rack having a' frame composed of as many sections as desirable, each carrying 33 a series of parallel bars relatively movable in their longitudinal directions with a circular movement, and means in each section for effecting the relativek movement of the bars. The bars are arranged in two or more series 57 and relative movement is eifectedby having one or more series of bars stationary and the remainder movable or by having all the bars moving in opposite directions at any instant.

In the accompanying drawings which il- "5 lustrate certain embodiments of the invention but to the details of whichY the invention is not confined, as numerous modifications of detail and substitutions of equivalents may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention :-V v

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one section of a rack constructed according to this invention together with fragments of the racks which may be located above and below it.

.50 Fig. 2 isa plan view of a rack section..

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a rack sectionat the line B-Sof Figure 1.k

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar vto Figure 3' but onan enlarged scale. p 55 Fig. 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 with the connecting rod removed to disclose the shaft bearings. f

Fig. 6 is a view similar toy Figure 4 showing the eccentric portions of the operating shafts. y f y Fig. 7 is a sectional view of one of the driving couplings between the rack sections.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation illustrating a modification. v Y

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the modification Vshown in Figure .8.

vReferring more particularly to the drawings, and especially to Figures 1 to 7 thereof,

11 designates a Vplurality of' rack sections 70 adapted to be located one above the other onA edge in guiding grooves or channels 12 formed in walls or piers 13 in a watercourse, such asthe head race leading to a wheelA house. 'Each of the frame sections comprises top andbottom members 14 and 15 respectively, side membersl and asy many transverse'intermediate members 17as are desired,

, together with the usual or necessary diagonal bracing 18. Thesemembers Vare secured together in any suitable-way to form a rigid rectangular frame.- A series of vertical bars 19 are rigidly secured to the top, bottom and intermediate frame membersV and a second series of vertical bars 20 are disposed alternately with the `bars 19 but are lseparate from the frame, so that they maybe movedA relay tively to the bars 19. The'movablebars are rigidly connected at the top, bottom and one or more intermediate points in the frame to transverse carriers 21 which are entirely separate from the rack frame, fillers 20a being provided between the bars and carriers so that the carriers may be'located` a'sulhcient distance from the bars 19. Thebars of each series are rectangular in cross `section and are disposed edgewise to the flow of water y through them as is customary, so asto offer theleast possible obstruction to water flow and to havelthejgreatest possible strength in 0o resisting pressure on them 'due to accumulation of rubbish. Preferably, each set of bars is of sufficient strength to withstand the full pressure of water in the event of rubbish accumulating against the bars to such an extent as to substantially prevent flow of water past the rack.

Transverse shafts 22 are provided at the top and bottom of the frame and, if desired, at one or more intermediate levels in the height of the frame. These shafts are mounted in bearings 23 secured to the top, bottom and intermediate frame members 14, 15 and- 17 respectively or to the vertical side frame members 16. These bearings are disposed .at the ends of the shafts and at as manypoints in the length of the shaft as may be desirable. The spacing of the shafts 22 and of the bar carriers 21 is preferably such that the shafts are immediately behind or on the downstream side of the carriers. The shafts are provided adjacent their ends and at as many intermediate points as may be desired with eccentric portions or cranks 24. A series of connecting rods or bearings 25 are rigidly connected tothe carriers 21 and operatively engage the eccentrics or cranks 211. Une end of each of the shafts 22 is connected by bevel gears 26 with a vertical shaft 27v mounted in bearings 28 on the adjacent vertical frame member 16. The lower end of the shaft 27 in each section is provided with a coupling device 29, such as a sleeve projecting beyond the end of the shaft, and the upper end of each shaft 27 is adapted for operative engagement with the coupling of the corresponding shaft in the section above. These couplings are of such character that the shafts can be connected in only a single angular relation and, while the arrangement shown is a single key and slot, it will be understood that this arrangement is merely for purposes of illustration and that any other suitable form of coupling may be used.

A housing 30 is provided on the vertical framemember 16, to which the shaft 2 7 is attached to protect the shaft and gearing. Lifting eyes 81 are preferably mounted in the top frame member 14 of each rack sec tion.

The upstream' edges of the bars may be ratchet-toothed, as shown in Figures 8 and 4, the teeth 32 having upper substantially horizontal flanks and klower inclined flanks, so that the teeth may be said to faceupwardly. Alternatively, the upstream edges of the bars may be plain, as shown in Figure 5.

The arrangement thus far shown is -of the most simple character embodying 'one set of stationary bars `and one set of moving bars. In Figures 8 and 9 ,there is shown van arrangement embodying two sets of movi-ng bars. In this modificati-on, the frame construction is `for all practical purposes identical with that already .',described ln piace ofthere heing a single transverse bar carrier 21 at top and bottom and intermediate levels, two such carriers, designated 21 and 21, are provided at each of the locations. One set of bars, designated 20, is connected to one of the sets kof carriers, for example, the carriers 21. The

second set of bars, designated 19a, are connected to the carriers 21, fillers 2Oa being provided between the bars and carriers 'as previously described.

In this construction, the shafts 22 instead of being immediately behind the bars 21 are located at levels approximately midway between the levels of the adjacent carriers 21 and 21a, as clearly shown in Figure 8, and are mounted in bearings secured to the frame members as already described. In this modiiication, the cranks or eccentrics 2a are arranged in pairs, the cranks of each pair being o-set, as clearly shown in Figure 8. Similarly to the cranks, the connecting rods 25 are connected in pairs, one rod of each pair being connected to a carrier 21 and the other to a carrier 21.

There is illustrated in Figure 8 one very convenient and inexpensive method of forming the cranks and bearings especially in .structures where two or more sets of bars are to be moved. This method consists in forming the cranks and adjacent journals in a single casting or forging, designated 33, which is mounted onthe shaft 22. When this construction is resorted to, the shaft may be continuous across the rack section, as shown in Figure 1, or may be in a number ofseparate lengths connected to the ends of the castings 33 as shown in Figure 8.

The structure shown in Figures 8 and 9 is in other respects essentially the same as that shown in Figures 1 to 7.

|The operation of the device is as follows If the depth of water necessitates the use of two or more superposed rack sec-tions, these are lowered one after the `other in the guide grooves 12, so that the coupling 29 of each upper section meshes with the Vupper end of the shaft 27 in the section next below. rIhe couplings may be set in proper meshing position before the sections are lowered but. even if this is not done, the coupling and shaft may be meshed by partial rotation of the shaft 27 When the rack sections are lowered into place, the u-pper end of the shaft 27 in the uppermost section is connected in any suitable way to a source lof power, such as an electric motor, andthe shaft 27 is continuously rotated and similarly rotates the corresponding shafts of the section beneath. This rotation is transmitted through the gears 26 to the transverse shafts 22. Because of the rigid attachment of the connect- .ing rods 25 to the `carriers 21 of the movable rack bars, the whole frame ycomprising the carriers 21 and bars 2O is `caused to move in a small -vertically disposed ria-cular orbit, in

Y such direction. that ythe Jmovable bars 2O ad'- flow is not great;

vance beyond or upstream from the fixed bars 19, then rise and retreat behind the `upf stream edges oftheiixedbars 19,'and finally descend to thestartingspoint. l/Vater'borne rubbish is heldjbythefiow of water quite tightly against the rack. In its outward or upstream movement, thel movable rack-comprising the carriers 2l and .ba-rs Q0 moves this rubbish-upstream away from the stationary barst and, at the same time, lifts it to a slightly higher elevation. l/Vhen the moving rack retreats behindthe stationary rack,fth.e rubbish is held against ,the stationary rack ata slightly higher elevation than before and the moving rack then descends and 'obtains a fresh grip on the rubbish at -a lower point. This` continuousV operation lifts submerged rubbish to the surface of the stream where vit may be readily removed-by hand orby any suitable form of mechanical ,clearing device. While it is; perhaps not necessary to provide teeth-31 on theupstream edges of the rack bars, these may be provided. to minimize the Vpossibility ofL rubbish slipping down, especially i-f the Velocity of thewater ingl is found most suitable tolocalwconditions. .When the movingrack lifts the grubbish away from the: stationary rack,it isobvious that the full pressure due to head Aand velocity of the water and` to fthe amount of obstruction in the channel/must be sustained by the moving rack in the same way-tliatthis pressure Vis sustained by the stationaryy rack when the, moving Vrack `happens to bev out of Contact with the rubbish. Itis forth-is reason that each rack must be of sufficientv strength to withstandV the maximum `load which would be imposed if the flow ofwater should be completely blocked. K' The" moving rack is well able to withstandsuch pressures without buckling or warping,'by reason. ofthe fact that-it is supported Aand receives itsinotion at a plurality of points, in the simple form illustrated in Figurelfat six points. When the shafts 27 of two or more superposed sections are coupled together, lthe moving racks `of the sections movein unison, so that .therei's no interruption to the upward passage of rubbish.- Thisrmovement in` unison is necessary both' to avoid thev moving bars of one section interfering with those of another and to permit of very close spacingof the adjacent `endsjofthe bars, so that there will be no appreciable horizontal space between the sect-ions.into which rubbish may enter. In this way, the rack itself is guarded against damage as wellas the turbines or other devices which the rack is intended to protect.

In the form shown in Figures 7 and 8, the

effect produced is the same and the operation is the same except that in place of a. station- Obviously, vthe teeth, vif f any, may beof whatever size, shapeor spacary rack tliereis a second moving-rack which follows thefirst moving rackin its orbit, the rack on the upstreamside moving upwardly while the rack on the-.downstream side'descends in readiness` toV ymove upstream and upwardly. Obviously, the jnumberof" movj'- f allelism.

2.' A straining rack for water courses,gcom i i prisingla framework anda plurality of series of vertical relatively movable bars carried ySi) ing the upstream faces of all the barsin par.n

thereby, andmeans for'movingjth'e bars in suohwise that'the barsof one series advance edgewise in vtheupstreamv direction .beyond the upstream edges vofthe-bars ofthe other series'and then mov'efupwardly in substantially the direction of rtheir length and then i move edgewise in a downstream direction.

until their upstreamredges have retreated g downstream from Vthe yplane of v the upstream edges of the bars of the other series an'dzfinally. move downwardlyv inthe directiontof their length, said Vmeans serving also` to maintain' the upstream faces of thebars ofthe first series in parallelism with oneV` another and with the bars of the'j'otherseries.;. f 3.y A straining rack for water courses comprising aframe andaplurality of series of.; substantially vertical bars carried therebyg the bars of one series being rigidly secured to the frame, and the other `bars ybeing `movable, and means for moving the movablebars in orbits lying in parallel vertical planes and .for maintaining the upstream faces of the fixed and movable bars in parallelism.

4., A device according to claiml, in which the bars aretoothed von their upstream edges, the teeth presenting substantially horizontal upper flanks and inclined lower iianks.

n. A 'straining rack for-water courses, comprising a rigid frame', a series of substantially vertical flat bars rigidly connected edgewise to' said frame,ja second series vof .barsy alternated with the first bars, transverse carriers for the barsjof theJ second series, a `plurality of crankA shafts journalled in the frame, con- 'necting rods operatively related. tothe vcranks `'of said crank shafts and rigidly connectedto the bar carriers, and means for? rotating said shafts-in unison. 6. A straining rackfor'water courses 'comprising a rigid 'frame including upright side v. members, top, bottom' and intermediate rails Vconnected between theside me1-nbers,a plubetween said vertical shaft andthe top, bot- 'members and top, bottom and intermediate transverse members, a series of upright flat bars rigidly securedv in edgewise relation to the frame, top, bottom and intermediate transverse crank shafts journalled in the frame, top, bottom and intermediate movable bar carriers located at substantially the same levels as said shafts and on the upstream side thereof, connecting rods operatively related to the cranks of said crank shafts and rigidly attached to said bar carriers', a second series of flat bars alternated with. the bars of the first series and rigidly connected to the carriers, and means for operating said crank shafts in unison to cause the movable bars to move alternately in an upstream and upward kdirection beyond the upstream edges of the stationary bars and with a downstream and downward direction behind the upstream edges of the stationary bars.

8. Means for removing submerged waterborne rubbish from water courses comprising a plurality of series of substantially vertical bars adapted to be located in the water course,

the bars of the several series being alternated,

level. v

y9. A straining rack for water courses, comprising a plurality of sections adapted to be superposed in edge to edge relation, each of said sections comprising a plurality of bars movable.relatively to other bars, and means for moving the bars, and means to couple the-operating means of the sections togather whereby corresponding bars thereof will operate in unison.v

10. A strain-mg rack for water courses comprising a plurality of sections to be superposed in edge to edge relation, each of said sections comprising a framework and a plurality of bars carried thereby and movable relatively to other bars, top, bottom and intermediate crank shafts, operative connection between the crank shafts and said relatively movable bars, means to operate the crank shafts in unison including a vertical shaft, and coupling means at the ends of the vertical shaft adapted to operatively connect the same in a single predetermined relation with the vertical shafts of sections next above and below, whereby corresponding bars of all sections will move in unison.

11. VA device according to claim 10 in which corresponding bars of upper and lower sections are in alignment and closely spaced end to end relation.

' 12. A device according to claim 5 in which the crank shafts comprise straight shaft portions and crank and journal portions separate from the shafts and irrevolubly connected thereto.

18. A straining rack for water courses comprisino` a framework, and a plurality of substantiazlly verticalbars, and means carried by the framework for moving certain of the bars upstream and vertically upward relatively to the other bars, the said movement being substantially uniform in extent from top to bottom of the bars.

14. A straining rack for water courses comprising a framework, and a plurality of substantially vertical bars supported atv top, bottom and intermediate points, and means carried by the framework for moving certain of the bars upstream and vertically upward relatively tothe other bars, the said movements being substantially uniform in extent from top to bottom of the bars.

15. A straining rack for water courses comprising a framework, a series of bars rigidly supported at top, bottom and intermediate points by said framework, a second series of bars, means carried by the framework movably supporting the second series of bars at top, bottom and intermediate points, said means being adapted to move the second series of bars upstream and vertically upward relatively to the other bars, the said movements being substantially uniform in extent p from top to bottom of the bars.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES R. REID. 

